“A gentle sense of movement and protest.” That’s how one developer described the feeling they hoped to create with the design of REN. We are standing in front of it now.
REN, also known as Denny Centre, is a residential high-rise building in Seattle’s Denny Triangle neighborhood. This 42-story tower is home to 457 apartments. REN sits on a triangular lot. This lot is at the intersection of Denny Way and Fairview Avenue.
Before REN was built, this spot held a two-story office and retail building. It was called the Denny Center. The Denny Center was built in 1937. Bosa Properties purchased the lot in May 2007 for $8 million. They didn’t immediately redevelop the building.
In September 2015, the firm filed plans to build a 450-unit residential tower. Robert Bosa owned Bosa Properties. His brother, Nat Bosa, developed the Insignia Towers complex nearby.
ZGF Architects and Cotter Architects created the preliminary design for the 41-story tower. It featured rounded edges. This was meant to contrast with the sharp rectangular designs of nearby high-rises. The tower’s design went through six revisions. These revisions came after consultations with the city government. The final environmental impact statement was released in February 2017.
Construction began in August 2018. The existing building had been demolished a few months prior. During the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-border travel was restricted. The developers and architects were based in Canada. To replace construction site visits, they used remote tours. Contractors used 360-degree video.
The tower was branded as REN. Pre-leasing began in October 2021. The first residents moved in in January 2022. By June, it was 60 percent leased.
In March 2023, Tutta Bella announced they would open a restaurant, cafe, marketplace, and bar at REN. The company got sole rights to the building’s hospitality and restaurant spaces. These spaces total 6,932 square feet. The Lobby Bar on the ground floor opened in May 2023.
REN rises 42 stories high. It features 457 apartment units. A three-story podium offers 10,000 square feet of retail space. The tower includes 308 parking stalls. These are in a five-story underground garage. Access to the garage is from Virginia Street.
The tower’s façade is undulating. Its edges are softened. This design was inspired by the collision between two city grids.
REN provides 23,000 square feet of amenity space. This includes a rooftop terrace, a gym, co-working spaces, and a dog spa. The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce named REN the 2022 Building of the Year. Voters praised its curves and unique design. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat awarded REN the Best Tall Building in the Americas in 2023.
Consider REN’s unique design. It reflects Seattle’s dynamic spirit. It blends modern living with artistic flair. This building has reshaped the Denny Triangle skyline.